Page 18 - Monster Manual Expanded III Dragonix

Aswangs

Aswang (Uh-swung)
An aswang is an accursed humanoid that transforms into a fiend. an individual, though, because if one looks directly at their eyes,
In its natural form, an aswang resembles a typical humanoid. At they will discover that their reflection is upside down. Aswangs
night, it can change its shape into a cunning, demonic predator. It tend to prey on members of society that no one will miss if they
hunts other humanoids and feasts on their blood, organs, or life suddenly disappear. If such targets are unavailable, they travel to
force. another community, settlement, or location that is far from their
Aswang Curse. A humanoid creature can be afflicted by the homes. They won't risk feeding near where they live. Anyone who
aswang curse after it willingly made or was tricked into making a becomes suspicious of them, or sees them in their fiendish form,
dark pact with a Demon Lord, sometimes through the actions of is always dealt with immediately for fear of rousing an organized
a hag. One can also be born into it if one or both of its parents are mob. A successful clan of aswangs can live in the outskirts of
aswangs. Casting remove curse, greater restoration, or similar town, preying on its citizens for years without getting caught. If
spell can free a humanoid of the curse, but a natural born aswang things start to go awry, the aswangs will not risk staying. They
can only be freed of the curse with a wish. An aswang can either will leave as soon as they can and establish themselves in another
resist its curse or welcome it. By fighting the curse, an aswang community to begin anew.
keeps its normal behavior and personality while in its natural Night Stalkers. Aswangs are careful, patient, and stealthy
form. It can try to live its life as it wants but must constantly stave hunters, often choosing targets that are defenseless or weak.
off the urge to feed. However, at nights of the full moon, the hunger Typically during the day, aswangs pick and mark their target and
becomes too great, and the curse overcomes the individual, identify where they live. At night after they transform, they stalk
forcing it to transform into its fiendish form. An aswang driven to their prey and bide their time until they can attack when their
this state becomes ravenous and will not stop hunting until it has target is most vulnerable. This means most of their assaults
fed. Each night that it fails to feed in its fiend form, it gains 1 level happen when their target is alone or asleep. They often just leave
of exhaustion. the bodies of their victims where they are to avoid the risk of
A genuinely depraved individual, or someone corrupted by it, getting caught. Because their kills bear specific types of wounds
sees the aswang curse as a gift and, over time, masters the ability commonly attributed to ghouls, lycanthropes, or vampires, they
to change into a fiend. However, an aswang can only transform aren't worried suspicions about their presence will be brought up.
at night and retain its demonic form until dawn, at which point it Aswang Weaknesses. Aswangs, much like vampires, have
automatically transforms back to its humanoid form. several weaknesses. They find the pungent smell of garlic
Masters of Deception. Aswangs hide in plain sight, living repulsive, and the chemical properties of pure salt sicken it. While
amongst normal folk and often taking up occupations like an aswang can resist most blows, weapons made from a stingray's
butchers, hunters, gravediggers, taxidermists, and trappers to barbed tail, even simple ones, can hurt them normally. Because
help divert suspicions of why their homes may sometimes smell they become fiends while transformed, they are susceptible to
of carrion and death. They insert themselves into humanoid attacks that specifically harm fiends, such as holy water. If an
communities and earn their neighbors' trust through charm, aswang fails its saving throw against a Dispel Evil and Good spell,
friendliness, and generosity. They avoid getting physically close to it reverts to its humanoid form and can't transform for 1 minute.
17
Bestiary